Burleson: ‘He was the toughest coach I ever had’

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson has played seven seasons in the NFL. He spent four years in college at the University of Nevada-Reno. Earned eight letters at O’Dea High school in basketball, football and track.

He’s had dozens of coaches throughout his athletic career. But only one Phil Lumpkin.

Burleson played point guard for Lumpkin on O’Dea’s Metro League championship team that wound up losing to Mercer Island in the 3A state title game in 1999.

Burleson was a state champion hurdler and college scholarship football receiver, but he says his athletic discipline was honed on the court under Lumpkin’s iron fist.

“He was old school,” Burleson said, smiling at the recollection. “I was his point guard and it was pass the ball six or seven times before anybody could get a shot up. It was always run the offense, control the team. He really taught me how to be a leader on the court.

“That was the first time I had to shoulder responsibility for a team, playing point guard under Coach Lumpkin.

“He didn’t pat you on the back too much. He didn’t say great job too much. It was always the harsh criticism of trying to improve you as an athlete.

“Now, off the court he would crack jokes with you, he’d be chill, he’d smile. But as soon as that whistle blew, it was a complete different story. It wasn’t just high school basketball. It was your job. It was your job to play at a high level under him and that’s what I’ll always remember.”

Burleson said he’d return to O’Dea several times a year to visit Lumpkin.

“He was one of my biggest fans as a Seahawk,” Burleson said. “It’s going to be tough to go back up there and not see him.”

Burleson said he was stunned to hear of his coach’s sudden passing. Two of his brothers, Kevin and Lyndale, also played for Lumpkin at O’Dea and word traveled quickly Monday among family and friends.

“It’s tough to know that he’s gone because there are going to be kids who don’t get the chance I got,” he said.

But Burleson figures Lumpkin wasn’t the sort of man to stop doing what he loved just because his time ran out at O’Dea.

“He’s up in heaven, coaching his new team,” Burleson said. “He’s got the wings on, yelling at his all-angel team now.”